The crowd closing in brought it all back, and the drink I didn’t ever want slipped from my lips instinctually, “Macallan on the rocks.”
The same look he’d given me in VIP, he gave me again. “I’ve decided something about you.”
As the bartender walked away to make our drinks, I replied, “Really? What is it you’ve decided?”
He put his hand on the back of my stool and leaned in close enough for me to smell some subtle mix of soap and cologne. “You don’t belong in Chicago.”
I smiled but it was a sad one. His words walloped a firm reality back into place for me.
I didn’t belong there, I didn’t belong in the middle of a crowd, losing myself. Instead, I lived a tightly-wound, lockstep life that didn’t push me from my comfort zone at all. I turned my head to see where my drink was. “You’re right. I don’t belong here.”
He stayed close. “Where do you belong then? I want to know so I can be there.”
Butterflies erupted in my stomach and the hair on the back of my neck stood up. My reaction should have been to his words.
I didn’t react to other men though.
I felt his cold blue eyes on me from afar and knew if I turned, he’d be heading our way.
Suddenly, mint and sandalwood surrounded me. I felt his abs up against my back as he pressed right into me and leaned far enough forward that his arms enclosed me as he set his hands on the bar.
By doing so, he’d nudged Bastian back, and they stared each other down, neither willing to speak at first.
Bastian, like most, conceded first. “It’s never a pleasure, Jax.”
Jax didn’t respond, and I turned a little to elbow him back and away from me.
His body, hard as steel, just leaned in closer. “Where’s your security, Bastian?” His voice barely registered it was so low.
Bastian sort of shrugged off the question. The bartender took that exact moment to deliver our drinks.
Jax eyed mine and connected the dots as fast as only he could. He whispered into my ear, “You all right?”
I nodded and tried to hide my drink. “Of course.” I sat up straight and looked at Bastian. “We’re all just trying to have a good night out, Jax.”
Bastian smirked at me and looked over at the bartender to hand him some cash for our drinks.
Before he could though, Jax spoke loudly across the bar, “The drinks are on the house, Ricky.”
Our now named bartender smiled and shrugged at Bastian before he nodded toward Jax and walked away.
I saw Bastian tweak his neck a little one way as if trying to rid himself of irritation. “Leave it to Jax Stonewood to always one up a man even when it comes to buying a girl a drink.”
“She’s not a girl. She’s the girl. My girl.” His words should have embarrassed me but goosebumps flew up my arms and my heartbeat picked up speed.
“Come on, man. I saw you walk in with Isabel.”
Bastian’s words snapped my eyes to Jax’s to see if his statement was true. When he visibly flinched, I tried to stand up but his hand flew from the bar to my thigh and held me down.
Bastian sighed like he didn’t want the drama. “What’s your angle? As Brey said, we’re having fun.”
I nodded and started to say I agreed with him, but Jax cut me off. “Go have fun with someone else.”
“There isn’t anyone else I’d rather be having fun with.” Bastian’s eyes were on me, and I felt his attraction. If Jax hadn’t been there, magnetizing all the attraction I could have in one lifetime, I probably would have felt something more for him.
With that, I knocked back some of the drink and let it burn all the way down. I must have swayed a little on my stool because his arms flexed to keep me steady. Bastian tried again, “Jay introduced Brey and me. I got the rundown on you all being childhood friends.”
“Not just friends.” Jay enunciated each word and looked at me like I’d disappointed him. “Never were we just friends.”